The key to making the 49ers' game-day roster this season: versatility. That's what a number of the team's offensive linemen are working on this spring. The most prominent is Alex Boone, who is the frontrunner for the starting right guard position but who on Tuesday lined up at right tackle in starter Anthony Davis' absence.

This mimicked a regular-season scenario in which Davis - or left tackle Joe Staley - went down with an injury. Boone, who was the team's backup tackle last season, would move from the starting guard position to tackle, and someone from the bench would have to fill in at guard.

Originally posted by NinerGM:The key to making the 49ers' game-day roster this season: versatility. That's what a number of the team's offensive linemen are working on this spring. The most prominent is Alex Boone, who is the frontrunner for the starting right guard position but who on Tuesday lined up at right tackle in starter Anthony Davis' absence.

This mimicked a regular-season scenario in which Davis - or left tackle Joe Staley - went down with an injury. Boone, who was the team's backup tackle last season, would move from the starting guard position to tackle, and someone from the bench would have to fill in at guard.

I love the fact this coaching staff is actually preparing for worst case scenarios. Best coaching staff in a long time.

Understatement! I love the due diligence here.

Although, while I feel the Boone example at RG is more of a veteran courtesy and he'll end up backing up both Staley/Davis at T (where he belongs and is best suited for - or pushing one for the starter), the constant learning-curve shifts for all of these guys (e.g. Boone, Kilgore, Beeler, Slowey, etc.) may not be good. We saw this same approach with Nolan. And for the OL, SPECIALISTS and consistency are crucial b/c the OL plays as a single unit. I personally don't want Boone wasting time learning about being a guard. I want him to continue to excel and specialize as a T so that when/if Staley goes down, we not only don't miss a beat, we start to progress and now we've got our starting LT for the future in place. Is anyone else concerned as well...more so with the move of T's to interior OL? Not so much LG to RG...maybe more G to C (totally different game here). Anyone?

Originally posted by NinerGM:The key to making the 49ers' game-day roster this season: versatility. That's what a number of the team's offensive linemen are working on this spring. The most prominent is Alex Boone, who is the frontrunner for the starting right guard position but who on Tuesday lined up at right tackle in starter Anthony Davis' absence.

This mimicked a regular-season scenario in which Davis - or left tackle Joe Staley - went down with an injury. Boone, who was the team's backup tackle last season, would move from the starting guard position to tackle, and someone from the bench would have to fill in at guard.

I love the fact this coaching staff is actually preparing for worst case scenarios. Best coaching staff in a long time.

Understatement! I love the due diligence here.

Although, while I feel the Boone example at RG is more of a veteran courtesy and he'll end up backing up both Staley/Davis at T (where he belongs and is best suited for - or pushing one for the starter), the constant learning-curve shifts for all of these guys (e.g. Boone, Kilgore, Beeler, Slowey, etc.) may not be good.We saw this same approach with Nolan. And for the OL, SPECIALISTS and consistency are crucial b/c the OL plays as a single unit. I personally don't want Boone wasting time learning about being a guard. I want him to continue to excel and specialize as a T so that when/if Staley goes down, we not only don't miss a beat, we start to progress and now we've got our starting LT for the future in place. Is anyone else concerned as well...more so with the move of T's to interior OL? Not so much LG to RG...maybe more G to C (totally different game here). Anyone?

I think the problem with the Nolan era was that the contingency plan kept changing from year to year because we kept changing the OC and subsequent offensive strategies so players kept learning new crap. Also add to this the protection of Rachal involved in said contingency plans ineffective. Well finally we have some brains running the ship and they've already (1) identified that Rachal is not a viable back-up option and (2) defining ONE plan and preparing for that. I like the fact this is being experimented with early, solidify roles, and then practice in that plan accordingly. It's totally possible for Boone to become an expert in one area but be functional to complete a game in another position. There's more than enough time now to identify what that role will be and then have those on the bench prepared.

I think the rate at which snaps are spent on alternate roles may not impact the main/starting duties. Boone is def getting snaps with the second offense as I would expect him to. This isn't uncommon for a team to have its back-up players learn multiple spots. The back-up just needs to be functional, not dominant and make basic blocksAlso given that any back-up will need to be versatile because we won't carry 9 OL guys this season - and I believe the reason why did because there were doubts about Rachal. Isn't it amazing how one guy can cause so much havoc to you 53-man roster?

In any event, failing to plan for a potential injury on the OL is a recipe for disaster that has been repeated too many time under previous regimes and we've paid dearly for it in wins and losses. You can't assume we'll have the same luck with health as we had last season. I'm glad the team is planning for that. I know people like to talk about the passing game and its effect - but I think deepest most prepared team wins.

Originally posted by NinerGM:The key to making the 49ers' game-day roster this season: versatility. That's what a number of the team's offensive linemen are working on this spring. The most prominent is Alex Boone, who is the frontrunner for the starting right guard position but who on Tuesday lined up at right tackle in starter Anthony Davis' absence.

This mimicked a regular-season scenario in which Davis - or left tackle Joe Staley - went down with an injury. Boone, who was the team's backup tackle last season, would move from the starting guard position to tackle, and someone from the bench would have to fill in at guard.

I love the fact this coaching staff is actually preparing for worst case scenarios. Best coaching staff in a long time.

Understatement! I love the due diligence here.

Although, while I feel the Boone example at RG is more of a veteran courtesy and he'll end up backing up both Staley/Davis at T (where he belongs and is best suited for - or pushing one for the starter), the constant learning-curve shifts for all of these guys (e.g. Boone, Kilgore, Beeler, Slowey, etc.) may not be good.We saw this same approach with Nolan. And for the OL, SPECIALISTS and consistency are crucial b/c the OL plays as a single unit. I personally don't want Boone wasting time learning about being a guard. I want him to continue to excel and specialize as a T so that when/if Staley goes down, we not only don't miss a beat, we start to progress and now we've got our starting LT for the future in place. Is anyone else concerned as well...more so with the move of T's to interior OL? Not so much LG to RG...maybe more G to C (totally different game here). Anyone?

I think the problem with the Nolan era was that the contingency plan kept changing from year to year because we kept changing the OC and subsequent offensive strategies so players kept learning new crap. Also add to this the protection of Rachal involved in said contingency plans ineffective. Well finally we have some brains running the ship and they've already (1) identified that Rachal is not a viable back-up option and (2) defining ONE plan and preparing for that. I like the fact this is being experimented with early, solidify roles, and then practice in that plan accordingly. It's totally possible for Boone to become an expert in one area but be functional to complete a game in another position. There's more than enough time now to identify what that role will be and then have those on the bench prepared.

I think the rate at which snaps are spent on alternate roles may not impact the main/starting duties. Boone is def getting snaps with the second offense as I would expect him to. This isn't uncommon for a team to have its back-up players learn multiple spots. The back-up just needs to be functional, not dominant and make basic blocksAlso given that any back-up will need to be versatile because we won't carry 9 OL guys this season - and I believe the reason why did because there were doubts about Rachal. Isn't it amazing how one guy can cause so much havoc to you 53-man roster?

In any event, failing to plan for a potential injury on the OL is a recipe for disaster that has been repeated too many time under previous regimes and we've paid dearly for it in wins and losses. You can't assume we'll have the same luck with health as we had last season. I'm glad the team is planning for that. I know people like to talk about the passing game and its effect - but I think deepest most prepared team wins.

Awesome post - always look forward to them. I think you nailed it when noting that we are working on the contingency plans NOW...early. I had no doubt we would see an array of combinations and now that we have some serious competition (unlike Rachal last year), it should only make these boys better and better and no longer can they ride on a secure job. There is another guy waiting to take your job. I think as the summer progresses, we'll see more guys settling in and focusing in on more specialist roles for the season. One concern is that we run a WCO and that is a very intricate and precise run/pass-blocking scheme. So my initial concern was how much these guys are taking in while learning two+ positions and then my other was, how much of a fit are our OL "for" a WCO system? Naturally, I think most of us have some serious concerns about the OL with all that has been presented in this thread alone despite the general consensus that we played "better" as the season progressed. Either way, this coach clearly has a system and a way of systematically implementing it and I think right now, we are seeing the first wave (naturally). I would imagine with each passing month, more and more waves will be made on our quest for #6!

Originally posted by GORO:
I really donot like Boone being moved to Guard. I wanted Kilgore to get a shot or for Anthony Davis to move to guard.

Agreed. Again, think it's a veteran courtesy (sends a great message to all that if you work your butt off you'll be given a real shot) and it buys rookies time to learn from a pro and learn the playbook. Plus we have a guy in Looney who is still healing up. Boone just look awkward there, too high, rangy and his stance is so deep/wide (to get down low), I can see Alex Smith tripping over him at snap, scrambling in the pocket, other dudes tripping over him like RB's and pulling guards (if he were to get moved backwards) and he just doesn't have the power and "clearing out" you need inside for Gore/Hunter/James/Jacobs. Good experience but nothing more IMHO. Guys like Kilgore/Looney and maybe even Slowey I think, will get the bulk as the months go on and one of them will win it outright. Just my opinion...best guess. I would LOVE to see Staley challenged by Boone though. That can only make the team stronger, no doubt!

Originally posted by oldman9er:
^ give Boone a chance, guys. Trust in the coaches a little bit.

( and this is coming from someone who fervently wanted to move Davis inside and insert Boone at RT )

Yah, you never know! But with all this time, I still would not be surprised to see Davis moved inside with Boone at RT at some point as well. Another wrinkle. Best 5, right?

You hit the key--time to learn different positions. Boone is well versed at OT now and can afford to experiment. Kilgore is OK with RG and can concentrate on OC. This seems very similar to the 80s 9er approach. Thank you Harbaugh!

With the number of good RBs and WRs and the question marks around Moss and Ginn as well the injuries to last year's WRs, it may be that the Niners carry 11 RBs and WRs on the 53. This may mean that only 8 OL will be on the 53. Therefore, it'll be even more important for those 8 (7 active?) to be versatile. Whether Boone is learning to backup or starter guard, his practice time at RG is useful. Perhaps he'll be first backup at both positions. I agree with the sentiment that the best 5 should be on the field.

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